pinch hitter

noun

: one that pinch-hits

Synonyms of pinch hitter

• replacement
• substitute
• backup

Examples of pinch hitter in a Sentence

the business owners brought in a pinch hitter until a permanent manager could be hired

Recent Examples on the Web

The Cubs clearly believe in Ballesteros’ bat to the point of carrying him on their postseason rosters last year and becoming Counsell’s go-to lefty pinch hitter in the playoffs. —Meghan Montemurro, Chicago Tribune, 4 Mar. 2026

Schumaker said Wade’s short, compact swing fits as a pinch hitter. —Shawn McFarland, Dallas Morning News, 2 Mar. 2026

Agnifilo, Kaplan and Geragos are joining Weinstein’s team as pinch hitters ahead of his next appearance in Manhattan Supreme Court on March 4, with a trial date still to be set for the outstanding third-degree rape charge concerning an alleged assault on aspiring actor Jessica Mann in 2013. —Molly Crane-Newman, New York Daily News, 26 Feb. 2026

Then with two outs and two runners on in the fifth, pinch hitter Miles Renteria came through with an RBI single for El Dorado. —Lou Ponsi, Oc Register, 25 Feb. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1896, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for pinch hitter

• embitter
• emitter
• outfitter
• remitter
• submitter
• transmitter
• babysitter
• bitter
• critter
• fitter
• fritter
• glitter

Kids Definition

pinch hitter

noun

1

: a baseball player sent in to bat for another especially when a hit is needed

2

: a person called upon to do another's work in an emergency

pinch-hit

(ˈ)pinch-ˈhit

verb